Origin
Santa Monica, CA
Late night in Santa Monica on Saturday
Local time
5:39 AM
PDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Santa Monica, CA to Fontana, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 19m
Distance
66 mi
106 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 13m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Santa Monica, CA
Bjorn Pierre
Fontana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Santa Monica, CA to Fontana, CA covers 66 miles and takes about 1h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Olympic Boulevard, I 10 East, Santa Monica Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.17 one way before food or hotel costs.
About the Cities
Starting in Santa Monica, CA
Full guide →Founded 1769
Anchoring the Westside of Los Angeles County, Santa Monica is a beachfront city popular with tourists for its expansive beach and its famous pier, which are among the most popular coastal attractions in Southern California. Within the city, visitors will find a number of urban shopping districts and plenty of restaurants and nightlife.
Top landmarks
- • Santa Monica Pier — Pier in Santa Monica, California, USA
- • Muscle Beach — outdoor acrobatics and gymnastics platform
- • Pacific Park — amusement park in Santa Monica, California, United States
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 66 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 19m drive with frequent turns across 66 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Olympic Boulevard is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Santa Monica, CA to Fontana, CA is easy. At 1h 19m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Santa Monica, CA to Fontana, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Olympic Boulevard | — | — |
| I 10 East | — | — |
| Santa Monica Freeway | — | — |
| Golden State Freeway | — | — |
| San Bernardino Freeway | — | — |
| I-10 | — | — |
| Sierra Avenue | — | — |
| Sierra Avenue North | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Olympic Boulevard
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Monica, CA and Fontana, CA.
1
Start on Lincoln Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lincoln Boulevard
2
Turn left onto Olympic Boulevard
367 ft
·
11 sec
·
Olympic Boulevard
3
Take the ramp straight toward I 10 East: Santa Monica Freeway, Los Angeles
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
I 10 East: Santa Monica Freeway, Los Angeles
4
Merge slight left onto Santa Monica Freeway
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Santa Monica Freeway
5
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Monica Freeway
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Santa Monica Freeway
6
Merge slight left onto Santa Monica Freeway
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Santa Monica Freeway
7
Keep slight left to continue on Santa Monica Freeway
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Monica Freeway
8
Merge slight left onto Golden State Freeway
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Golden State Freeway
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 10 East: San Bernardino Freeway, San Bernardino
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 10 East: San Bernardino Freeway, San Bernardino
10
Merge slight left onto San Bernardino Freeway
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
11
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
12
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
13
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
14
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
15
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
16
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
17
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
18
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
19
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
20
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
21
Keep slight left to continue on I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
9.0 mi
·
9 min
·
I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
22
Merge slight right onto San Bernardino Freeway
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
23
Take the exit slight right toward Sierra Avenue
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Sierra Avenue
24
Keep slight left to continue on Sierra Avenue North
449 ft
·
13 sec
·
Sierra Avenue North
25
Turn slight left onto Sierra Avenue
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Sierra Avenue
26
Turn right onto Merrill Avenue
207 ft
·
4 sec
·
Merrill Avenue
27
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33 mi from Santa Monica, CA · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33 miles from Santa Monica, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Fontana, CA
The final approach into Fontana, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.17 one way
$30.34 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $15.63 | $31.26 |
| premium | $6.18 | $16.05 | $32.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.57 | $29.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$15
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.8 | 0 | $6.93 | $3.17 |
| Efficient EV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.77 | $2.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.4 | 0 | $9.24 | $4.22 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Fontana, CA
Late night in Fontana on Saturday
Local time
5:39 AM
PDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Pasadena, CA
33 mi in
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
11 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 19m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Santa Monica, CA to Fontana, CA covers 66 miles and takes about 1h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Olympic Boulevard, I 10 East, Santa Monica Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33 miles from Santa Monica, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.17 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Santa Monica, CA to Fontana, CA is easy. At 1h 19m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Santa Monica, CA to Fontana, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Santa Monica, CA to Fontana, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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